As the two emerged from the Spirit Master passage, Ma Hongjun was waiting for them. When he saw Kong You, Ma Hongjun couldn't help snorting.
He always felt that this guy was up to no good. But there was nothing he could do about it. His senior brother got along reasonably well with him, and as a junior, he couldn't exactly drive a wedge between them.
"Some staff from the Soto Grand Spirit Fighting Arena came by just now. They said they wanted to schedule a 2v2 match for us in the main arena, but I didn't agree. I said we'd talk about it after your match."
Although Ma Hongjun had refused, his eyes blazed as he spoke. Clearly, he was very interested in a 2v2 match in the main arena.
At that, Oscar and Kong You exchanged a glance. Kong You smiled and said nothing, while Oscar sighed and said to Ma Hongjun:
"Come on. Let's register for the 2v2 match."
Oscar hadn't planned to agree. After all, this was a conspiracy aimed at him, and the rule that a sorcerer should never put himself in danger was one he wouldn't abandon, no matter how confident he was.
But the Great Soul Arena was an excellent place to train at their current stage, and he didn't want to give it up.
He also knew that avoiding the problem wouldn't solve anything. Even if he dodged it this time, the families behind the Great Soul Arena who opposed Sky Net would keep causing trouble for him, an exposed member of their organization.
He could use this opportunity to keep those families guessing about Sky Net's "inherited self-created Soul Skills" and make them wary of the strength hidden behind Sky Net.
On top of that, he wanted to gain some leverage for the upcoming negotiations with the family behind Kong You.
The four of them turned and headed to the front desk. After quickly registering their points, their 2v2 match was set.
As participants in the main arena, Oscar and the others were given a private box. After asking how Zhu Zhuqing was doing, they rested there briefly and recovered their Soul Power.
A 2v2 match lasted much longer than a 1v1, and the difference was even greater in the main arena.
So even after Oscar had finished resting, the two teams warming up the crowd on the platform had only just decided their match. The staff then knocked on the box door at just the right moment.
"Honored Soul Elders Yuanzhen and Jueyu, your match is about to begin. Please follow me to the Soul Fighting Platform."
The staff member wore an outfit that looked appropriate for the occasion but was, in truth, quite revealing. It was a reflection of the times. Many major powers liked to use young, beautiful women to attract the attention of the strong.
If a Soul Master became infatuated with one of them, they could use that to win him over.
After a few quick words to Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar and Ma Hongjun followed the Spirit Master passage to the Soul Fighting Platform. Kong You naturally came along as well.
Whether he was there to avoid suspicion or to get a close look at Oscar's match, only he knew.
The stands around the main arena's 2v2 Soul Fighting Zone were packed. Some spectators even stood off to the side, their faces flushed as they shouted.
Although Jueyu usually fought his 1v1 matches in the smaller arenas, his battles were so spectacular that he'd already built up quite a following in the main arena through his partnership with Oscar.
Oscar needed no introduction. His looks and fighting techniques were second to none in the main arena. Plenty of girls had even declared they wanted to have his children.
Oscar, of course, let such comments go in one ear and out the other. He had no interest in them.
The main arena's 2v2 platform was made entirely of refined iron and was four times larger than the platforms used for 1v1 matches in the smaller arenas!
The host was announcing the Soul Master teams on the platform.
"...The fourth 2v2 match: the Wuliang Duo versus the Black Sand Duo."
As soon as Ma Hongjun stepped onto the platform, his gait changed. With every step, a blazing Phoenix Red Lotus appeared beneath his feet.
This was a method of building momentum that he and Oscar had developed together over the past year. It let him accumulate power as he moved, then unleash it all in an instant.
Their opponents were two young men of about eighteen or nineteen. Both had tiger-like heads and round eyes, and they looked so alike they could have been twins. They were as well-built as Zhao Wuji.
They weren't bare-chested, but their thick, exposed arms still showed off their strength.
When the two saw Oscar and the others take the platform, their mouths curled into slight grins. A powerful aura suddenly erupted across the arena.
Oscar could sense how strong they were. After all, anyone chosen by the families behind the Great Soul Arena to take care of a problem couldn't be ordinary.
"Now, the match begins!"
After hastily announcing the start, the host quickly left the platform. Clearly, he already knew something was going on.
Oscar took it all in and exchanged a glance with Ma Hongjun.
The brothers of the Black Sand Duo charged forward as soon as they heard the match begin. Dense black light gathered in their hands, and two identical black spears appeared.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they were one person!
At the same time, three Spirit Rings of identical colors—yellow, yellow, and purple—pulsed around each of them. Terrifying spear light filled the arena.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun exchanged a glance. They both reacted quickly, sensing the danger of the attack in an instant.
But neither of them was worried. After all... Ma Hongjun had spent the entire journey building up momentum!
Ma Hongjun's third purple Spirit Ring lit up, and three flame sprites appeared beside him.
This was his third Soul Skill, Flame Sprite!
The number of Flame Sprites he could summon increased with each additional Spirit Ring. Each one possessed 40% of Ma Hongjun's strength, and they benefited from the momentum he had built up as well!
At the same time, Ma Hongjun's second Spirit Ring lit up. It granted a boost called Undying Fire, which transformed the Phoenix Flame he unleashed into Undying Phoenix Fire. Once it touched an opponent, it would keep burning until they were reduced to ashes!
In the blink of an eye, Ma Hongjun's first Spirit Ring flashed, a beat late. Four streams of flame burst from him and the three Flame Sprites, shooting toward the two Black Sand Duo brothers as they charged.
But their opponents had clearly been prepared. The moment they saw this, they split to either side and attacked Oscar instead.
A string of light spheres—each apparently produced by a different Soul Skill—burst from their spears, aimed at Oscar's head, abdomen, and lower abdomen!
"Since you're so vicious, don't blame me for hitting back just as hard."
Oscar sighed. His foot shifted, and in an instant he stepped onto his right foot with his left and shot into the air. It was the strongest Wudang movement technique he had kept hidden all along—Wudang Cloud-Stepping!
In the gap created by putting distance between them, he once again used the Three Jin from Wudang's Taiji school: Stick-Entangle-Draw!
He guided the light spheres one by one into the palm of his left hand. At the same time, a long sword appeared in his right hand, its blade gleaming coldly!
Before you continue